Heathrow Express Extension – Terminal 5
Project summary
Images of the project
A new link rail link for Terminal 5
Heathrow Express is an airport rail link between London Heathrow Airport and London Paddington station. The service opened in 1998 and is operated by the Heathrow Express Operating Authority, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited.
As part of the extension works at Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5 is to be linked to the existing terminals via the Heathrow Express.
Sixense appointed
Sixense were appointed to carry out the installation and monitoring to the existing Heathrow Express running tunnel between Terminals 3 and 5 during the passage of the tunnel boring machine into the existing turnout stub, and during breakout into the existing tunnel.
A comprehensive monitoring system was installed. This comprised of:
- 2 Nos. Cyclops ATS
- 120 Nos. Prisms (Automated Monitoring)
- 80 Nos. Prisms (Manual Monitoring)
Real-time movements were monitored and recorded on Sixense’s Geoscope monitoring software. Both Cyclops instruments were driven by a computer installed in the baggage area and linked to the instruments by a data cable running along the tunnel lining.
Another computer was installed in the contractor’s control room and linked to the baggage area via a modem. This allowed the monitoring engineer and contractor to assess and review movements of the tunnel in real time.
A remote alarm system was also installed within the Heathrow Express control room and linked to the monitoring engineer’s PC via a phone line. This alarm system would activate a flashing warning light if triggers were breached, allowing the control room staff to stop train movements immediately and ensure passenger safety.
Terminal 5 opened on 27th March 2008 and the full Heathrow Express service to Terminal 5 opened on 23rd June of the same year.
